Automatic lubricator.



1. J. HENNESSY.-

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1914.

1,142,705. I l 'Patented June 8, 1915.

Z4 25 fm1 27 Y :f/,16.5 J/vfmessy THE NDRRIS PETERS CO.. PAHOTC-LITHU.,WASHINGTON. D. C,

rainni ortica.

JAMES J'. I-IENNESSY, OF ST. IIOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 'June s, 191.5.

Application filed February 2, 1914. Serial N o. 815,870.

cally by the starting and stopping of the engine;

A further object of my invention is to construct a lubricator providedwith a double head piston, against which live steam is directed formanipulating a valve for automatically regulating the ow of the oil fromthe oil receptacle to the engine cylinder or other parts to belubricated.

A further object of my invention,is to construct a lubricator which willopen and permit the oil to circulate automatically with the starting ofthe engine, and to close automatically when the engine is stopped.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improved lubricator. Fig. 2is an enlarged* detail sectional view of the valve mechanism made use ofthrough which the condensation is admitted into` and discharged near thebottom of the oil receptacle. lFig. 3 is a bottom plan view of thevalve. Fig. et is an enlarged detail sectional view of the check valvemade use of in the steam inlet pipe.

In carrying out my invention I provide a lubricator consisting of atubular member 5, its upper end flaring outwardly forming Aa pistoncylinder 6, the bottom end of the tubular member 5 being suitablythreaded and seated in a liquid condenser 7 ,this condenser isprovidedwith a partition wall 8 having a central downwardly projecting tube 9,which extends into an oil receptacle 10. In the piston cylinder 6islocated a piston head 11 to which is attached a valve `stem 12, whichextends downwardly through the tubular member 5, and into a liquidcondenser 7. The bottomend of said stem is provided with a valve v13which is located in a valve casing 14 located on the top of the tube 9.On said valve stem is also located a piston head 15, which is of smallerdiameter than the piston head 11, and which conforms with theradius ofthe interior of the tubular member 5; this piston head is separated areasonablev distance from the piston head 11, `and the downward movementof the piston head is limited by a flange orinternal rib 16 located onthe interior of the tubular member 5.

The flaring portion of the tubular member is preferably mountedas shown,and is provided with a shoulder 17, which acts as a supporting seat fora spring 1S, which encircles the valve stem 12, and contacts with theunder surface of the piston head 11; the two piston heads are properlyspaced apart by means of a sleeve 19 located between both `heads andencirclingv the valve stem 12. y y V On the topfof the piston cylinder 6is i locatedv a liquid receptacle 20, the same being detachablyconnected as shown, 'and that portion of the bottom 21 of the receptaclewhich acts'as the cover for the cylinder 6 is provided with a smallopening 22 through which theliquid from the receptacle 2,0 is permittedto pass into the cylinder 6, and rest upon the top of the piston 11, thepurpose of which will be fully hereinafter described. To theV top of theliquidreceptacle 2O is connected a pipe 23, whichis a branch of the pipe24 leading to the steam chest; 8l5.

this pipe vcontinuingy downwardly also leading into the piston cylinder6 ata point above the top of the piston head 11, and is provided with a.check valve 25, vthe construction of which is clearly shownk in Fig.

4; this check valve is provided with/a spring-actuated valve head 26normally seated in the valve seat 27 and asV the steam ypressure isadmitted into the steam chest of the cylinder it also enters the'pipe24e cone nected thereto, the vvalve is openedfand steam admitted intothe cylinderv 6 above the piston head 1l. y y Y In the tubular member 5is located a pipe connection 28, which leads to the steam dome of thelocomotive and through which live steam is admitted into the tubularmember 5, and condenser 7,; all condensation of the steam lodging in thecondenser 7 and which condensation `is permitted to flow downwardlythrough the tube 9 into the oil receptacle 10 whenever the valve 13 isdepressed; the normal tendency of the steamv pressure admitted-throughthe pipe 28 con- I nected to the steam dome of thebo'iler is to hold thevalve 13 closed by means of the steam pressure against the bottom of thepiston head 15.

The oil receptacle 10 is detachably connected to the liquid condenser 7as shown, the said condenser being provided with a horizontal partitionwall 29, spaced a reasonable distance above the bottom 30 forming an oilchamber 31; from this oil chamber leads an inlet pipe 32 projectingupwardly, its top being a short distance from the bottom of thehorizontal wall 8, and through which the oil located in the receptaclel0 isted from the receptacle into the chamber 31 as the condensation orwater fed from the condenser 7 enters into and near the bottom of thereceptacle 10, which tendency is to force the oil upwardly. The oilwhich feeds into the chamber 3l is then permitted to pass through thejets 32 into the sight feeds 83, and then pass outwardly through theopenings Self into the proper pipe connections and is ted drop by dropfrom this point to the engine steam chest and cylinder or any otherlocation to which the pipe is connected.

rThe feed is regulated by means of the needle valves 35, and the sameare regulated to the required amount of oil to be fed before thelocomotive leaves the round-house, and in order to prevent tamperingwith the reg ulation, a hood or cover 36 is placed over the same andsecured by an ordinary lock 37.

The operation of my invention is as follows: rlhe receptacle 10 islilled with oil, either by a separate inlet, or by detaching the samefrom the condenser 7. Liquid is admitted into the receptacle 20 and thevalve 13 is held normally closed by means of the spring 18. Steam isadmitted into the tubular member 5 through the pipe 28 which isconnected to the steam dome of the boiler, the pressure of said steamassisting in normally holding the valve closed, and the condenser 7 issupplied with water by the condensation of the steam. When thelocomotive is operated and steam admitted into the steam chest foroperating the engine; steam is lilrewise admitted through the pipeconnection 24 attached to the steam chest into the liouid receptacle 20,.and above the .piston il, the radius of the piston 11 being greaterthan the piston l5, the steam pressure admitted above the piston l1 hasa tendency to press the same downwardly opening the valve 13 allowingthe water of condensation to pass from the condenser 7 down into andnear the bottom of the oil receptacle 10, and by the feeding of thewater below the oil line will force the oil upwardly and permit it toiiow downwardly through the tube 32 into the chamber 31, and then outthrough the sight feeds 33 into the tube connection, which leads to thecylinder or steam chest. Whenever Vthe steam is cut oil' from the lsteamchest of the engine, the pressure of the steam in the tubular member 5,below the piston head l5 has a tendency to close the valve to check theflow of water, and also the feed of the oil; this closing teature isthen gradually and slowly closed by means of the liquid located in thepiston cylinder above the piston head ll, as the upward pressure of thepiston head ll forces the liquid baclr into the receptacle 20 throughthe aperture or opening 22. rl`his gradual flow of the liquid from thepiston cylinder back to the liquid receptacle acts f as a cushion,permitting the valve to close gradually and slowly while the locomotiveis drifting and the steam from the steam chest cut otll so that oil iscontinuously and slowly fed Vinto the cylinder during that period. Thisis one of the essential features and objects of my invention: to supplyil. tc the cylinder while the engine is in operation, and also while thelocomotive is drifting, but to automatically stop the flow of oil whenthe locomotive is at a stand still.

Having fully described my invention what l claim is:

l. ln a condensation displacement lubricator, comprising a lubricantreceptacle, a condenser mounted above same, a piston chamber mountedabove the condenser, a plurality of pistons mounted on a piston rodoperated in said piston chamber a piston rod extending into thecondenser and forming a valve stem; a passage way connecting thelubricant receptacle and condenser, a valve located in said passage wayand mounted on the valve stem for controlling the iiow ot the water fromthe condenser, a steam connection to the condenser and piston chamber,and an outlet from the lubricator, substantially as specified.

2. ln a condensation displacement lubricator, the combination of alubricant receptacle, a condenser, a steam connection to the condenser avalve controlled passage way connecting the lubricant receptacle andcondenser; a double piston chamber mounted above the condenser, pistonsmounted within the piston chamber, a piston rod connecting the pistonsand extending into the condenser; a valve located on the lower end ofsaid piston rod and seated in the passage connecting the lubricantreceptacle and condenser; means for supplying steam to the pistonchamber when the source of steam is open, said steam operating one ofsaid pistons, and opening the valve between the lulubricant outlet meansconnected with the receptacle, a tubular member having a iiaring upperend connected to the condenser and provided with large and small pistonchambers, a receptacle connectedv to the flared end of the tubularmember, and closing the upper piston chamber, the receptacle beingprovided with a port communicating with upper piston chamber, a pistonin the upper piston chamber, a spring beneath said piston, a pistoninthe lower piston chamber, a valve in the upper portion of the convdenser outlet tube, a rod connected to the valve and secured to the twopistons, a steam pipe communicating wlth the tubular member beneath thelower piston and adapted to be connected with a source of steampressure, a steam pipe communicating with the upper piston chamber abovethe piston therein and with the chamber thereabove, the latter steampipe being adapted to be connected with a source of controllable steampressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES J. HENNESSY. Witnesses ALFRED A. EIoKs, WALTER C. STEIN.`

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

